A new study discovers that a new male contraceptive that blocks the flow of sperm is effective. It prevents pregnancy in female monkeys.
According to a report in Live Science a new contraceptive called Vasalgel has been tested to monkeys. The Vasalgel is injected to the vas deferens. This is the tube that carries the sperm all the way to the urethra. Once the gel is injected it forms into a hydrogel that automatically blocks the tube preventing pregnancy.
The researchers used 16 male monkeys who already impregnated females prior to the study. Each monkey has been injected with the Vasalgel as male contraception. The monkeys are then given days to recover from the procedure before they were made to mate with the females. There was no pregnancy that occurred. This means that the new contraception has been successful for monkeys.
The Guardian reports that the new male contraception has been 100 percent effective in monkeys. The Parsemus foundation that funded the work plans to move on with the study in humans. The trial for humans will push through as soon as funding is secured.
The study's lead author Catherine VandeVoort shares that there are less options for male contraception in the past years. There is vasectomy and condoms. This new contraception method hopes to be effective for men so to have a different option.
Meanwhile, the new male contraception Vasalgel is reversible according to a report in MagicValley.com. This means that the gel can easily be flushed out and the males can be fertile again. This is a promising study that may work as an alternative to the already existing contraceptive method.
The study even if it has been successful to monkeys does not mean that it can be successful to humans too. This needs more studies and trials to know if the Vasalgel can be effective as a male contraception for humans.
